John Shahidi is a tech entrepreneur and advisor best known as the co-founder of the viral selfie app Shots and as president of the YouTube brands Shots Studios and Full Send. He has an estimated net worth of $20 million.
John Shahidi Bio
| Full Name | John Shahidi |
| Date of Birth | January 7, 1980 |
| Age | 43 years old |
| Birthplace | Los Angeles, California |
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation | Entrepreneur, Investor |
| Years Active | 2009-present |
| Net Worth | $20 million (estimated) |
John Shahidi Age
As of 2024, John Shahidi is 43 years old. He was born on January 7, 1980, in Los Angeles, California.
Shahidi grew up in Orange County, California with his younger brother Sam. The two brothers were raised by their single mother and grandmother.
John Shahidi Height, Weight & Physical Stats
John Shahidi stands at a height of 5 ft 7 in (170 cm) and weighs around 150 lbs (68 kg). He has an athletic build thanks to his active lifestyle.
| Height in inches | 5 ft 7 in |
| Height in cm | 170 cm |
| Weight in Kg | 68 kg |
| Weight in pounds | 150 lbs |
| Body Type | Athletic |
Early Life and Education
John Shahidi was born in Los Angeles to an Iranian Kurdish family. He and his brother Sam spent their childhood in Orange County.
The Shahidi brothers taught themselves how to code and began developing mobile apps and games as teenagers. They started out making games for flip phones in the early 2000s.
John attended Cal State Fullerton where he graduated with a degree in Business Administration and Marketing.
Career Beginnings: RockLive Apps
In 2009, John and his brother Sam Shahidi founded a video game development company called Rock Software, later renamed RockLive.
Their first commercial app was RunPee, which provided optimal times to take bathroom breaks during movies.
Through a childhood friend, the Shahidis met NFL player Chad “Ochocinco” Johnson and developed an app for him called MadChad. This exposure led to apps for other athletes like Usain Bolt, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Mike Tyson between 2009-2012.
The Viral Selfie App Shots
In November 2013, RockLive launched a selfie photo sharing app called Shots. Justin Bieber, Floyd Mayweather, and other celebrities helped promote it.
Shots grew rapidly to 7 million users by March 2016. It required users to take photos in real-time without filters or editing. The app did not allow comments or likes.
At its peak, Twitter considered buying Shots for $150 million. But by October 2016, the user base dropped to just 2.5 million as selfies migrated to Instagram Stories.
Pivoting to YouTube Content Creation
With the decline of Shots, RockLive rebranded as Shots Studios in 2016 and pivoted to creating social media content, especially for YouTube.
The Shahidis attracted creators like Rudy Mancuso, Lele Pons, and Jake Paul. Shots Studios helps talent grow their channels and broker brand deals.
John executive produced docuseries like Vai Anitta for Netflix and The Secret Life of Lele Pons for YouTube Originals.
Full Send with Nelk Boys
In 2020, the Shahidis partnered with Canadian pranksters Nelk to grow their brand Full Send. John became president and helped Nelk optimize their merchandise, live events, alcohol brand Happy Dad, and other ventures.
Full Send collaboration merchandise routinely sells out within minutes. John’s business acumen has helped Nelk earn over $70 million in revenue.
Investing in Twitter
On October 28, 2022, it was announced that John Shahidi had become an investor and advisor to Twitter under new owner Elon Musk.
His background building viral platforms and working with creators made him an attractive addition as Musk aims to revamp Twitter.
John Shahidi’s Net Worth
As of 2024, John Shahidi has an estimated net worth of $20 million.
The majority of his wealth comes from being a founder of Shots and his stake in Full Send’s parent company. He also has invested in multiple successful startups.
Shahidi lives in the Hollywood Hills with his wife and kids. When not working, he enjoys fitness, cars, travel, and spending time with family.
At just 43, John Shahidi has already built several influential internet companies and has plenty more years to add to his entrepreneurial accomplishments. His vision and execution helped shape social media as we know it today.
